Snap action switch

Abstract

An improved snap action switch wherein a snap action blade (30), that moves a contact carrying leaf spring (40), includes a latch (31) that mates with a notch (41) in the leaf spring member to eliminate the "teasing" effect normally associated with opening and closing a snap action switch.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A snap action switch comprising: a housing having an upper end;   a shaft movably mounted within the housing;   a first contact mounted on said shaft;   a snap action blade mounted within said housing generally parallel to said shaft, said blade having an upper end that terminates in a latch that extends in the direction toward said shaft;   a leaf spring member mounted between said shaft and said snap action blade and generally parallel to said shaft and said blade, said leaf spring member having an upper end that includes a notch that mates with the latch on said blade;   a second contact mounted on said leaf spring member;   a button mounted at one end of said shaft, said button adapted to move said shaft in the direction of said leaf spring member and cause engagement of said first and second contacts.   
     
     
       2. A snap acton switch as described in claim 1 wherein said latch includes a first leg extending in the direction toward said shaft and at least one other leg extending transverse to said first leg, said first leg extending through the notch in the leaf spring member with said other leg engageable with the side of said leaf spring member facing toward said shaft. 
     
     
       3. A snap action switch as described in claim 1 including: means for biasing said leaf spring member in a direction toward said shaft; and   means for biasing said snap action blade in a direction away from said shaft, said means biasing said blade providing a greater biasing force than the biasing force on said leaf spring member.   
     
     
       4. A snap action switch as described in claim 2 including: means for biasing said leaf spring member in a direction toward said shaft; and   means for biasing said snap action blade in a direction away from said shaft, said means biasing said blade providing a greater biasing force on said leaf spring member.   
     
     
       5. A snap action switch comprising: a housing having an upper end;   a shaft movably mounted within the housing;   a first contact mounted on said shaft;   a snap action blade mounted within said housing generally parallel to said shaft, said blade having an upper end that includes a notch;   a leaf spring member mounted between said shaft and said snap action blade and generally parallel to said shaft and said blade, said leaf spring member having an upper end that terminates in a latch that extends in the direction away from said shaft and mates with the notch in said blade;   a second contact mounted on said leaf spring member; and   a button mounted at one end of said shaft, said button adapted to move said shaft in the direction of said leaf spring member and cause engagement of said first and second contacts.   
     
     
       6. A snap action switch as described in claim 5 wherein said latch includes a first leg extending in the direction away from said shaft and at least one other leg extending transverse to said first leg, said first leg extending through the notch in the blade with said other leg engageable with the side of said blade facing away from said shaft. 
     
     
       7. A snap action switch as described in claim 5 including: means for biasing said leaf spring member in a direction toward said shaft; and   means for biasing said snap action blade in a direction away from said shaft, said means biasing said blade providing a greater biasing force than the biasing force on said leaf spring member.   
     
     
       8. A snap action switch as described in claim 6 including: means for biasing said leaf spring member in a direction toward said shaft;   means for biasing said snap action blade in a direction away from said shaft, and said means biasing said blade providing a greater biasing force than the biasing force on said leaf spring member.   
     
     
       9. A snap action switch comprising: a housing having an upper end;   a shaft movably mounted within the housing;   a first contact mounted on said shaft;   a snap action member mounted within said housing generally parallel to said shaft, said member having an upper end;   a leaf spring member mounted between said shaft and said snap action member and generally parallel to said shaft and said blades, said leaf spring member having an upper end;   a second contact mounted on said leaf spring member; and   a button mounted at one end of said shaft, said button adapted to move said shaft in the direction of said leaf spring member and cause engagement of said first and second contacts; and   means for nonfixedly attaching said snap action member to said leaf spring member, said means comprising:   a latch on the upper end of one of said members; and   a notch in the upper end of said other member that mates with said latch.   
     
     
       10. A snap action switch as described in claim 9 wherein said latch includes a first leg extending toward said other member, and a second leg extending transverse to said first leg, said second leg adapted to engage a portion of one side of said other member.